CHICO -- The Coyotes took control in their opener against Chico State on Sunday, scoring five runs with two out in the second inning in a 9-5 victory.

The Wildcats came back in the second game, grabbing a 7-0 lead and hanging on for a 7-6 win.

CSUSB (20-15 overall, 12-12 CCAA) steps outside of conference play for the final time in the regular season this week at the Tournament of Champions, hosted by Cal State Stanislaus.

Game 1: Coyotes 9, Chico State 5

CSUSB got runners on first and second with no outs, then took control with their five-run second.

Tiffany McIntosh and Victoria Lievanos reached base on a single and a sacrifice bunt, respectively, then got going with the bottom of the order stepping up.

Melissa Roberts walked to load the bases, then Darian Manuz singled to drive in pinch-runner Na'Tavia Lee. Thalia Ortiz drove in a run when she was hit by a pitch, and Alyssa Ramos followed with a two-run single.

McIntosh batted for the second time in the inning and came up with a bases-loaded walk and the Coyotes led 5-0.

They added two more in the third on a two-run single by Ortiz.

Up 7-2 through four, CSUSB tacked on two runs in the fifth. McIntosh got her second RBI by walking with the bases loaded and Victoria Lievanos got an RBI on a sac fly to right.

Ortiz went 3-for-4 and Cassandra Williams singled twice.

Lievanos led with three RBI.

On the mound, Williams earned her 11th victory going the distance. She struck out four, walked two and gave up eight hits.

Game 2: Chico State 7, Coyotes 6

Down 7-0 through four innings, CSUSB climbed back with four runs in the fifth and two in the sixth.

Ramos and McIntosh each had RBI as CSUSB scored four runs on just two hits (a double from Ortiz accounted for the other hit).

In the sixth, Nicole Nobbe drove in a run on a sac fly to left and McIntosh followed with a double to right.

Ortiz and Manuz each had two hits in the final game.